Nap flicker type suction cleaning nozzle



A y 1 8, G. A. BRACE 2,846,711

NAP FLICKER TYPE SUCTION CLEANING NOZZLE Filed Sept. 17. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! nvmvrom GEORGE A. BRACE ATT'Y Aug 112, 1958 e. A. BRACE NAP FLICKER TYPE SUCTION CLEANING NOZZLE Filed Sept. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

GEORGE A. BR CE gifly ATT'Y United States NAP FLICKER TYPE SUCTION CLEANING NOZZLE George A. Brace, Highland Park, lllh, assignor to "fire Hfoagr Company, North Canton, (this, corporation 0 Application September 17, 1953, Serial No. 380,795

Claims. (Cl. -359) This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a novel surface contacting suction nozzle for use therewith.

The suction nozzle construction of the present invention incorporates a number of novel features which mutually cooperate to provide much more effective cleaning of both bare and fabric covered surfaces than heretofore achieved. The specially designed nozzle lip structure of one embodiment has numerous characteristics and advantages not previously available and comprises a resilient and flexible main body having auxiliary nap flicking elements depending therefrom so arranged as to trail behind the main body of the lip at an angle to the horizontal irrespective of the direction of nozzle movement. In a second embodiment the nap flicking elements perform similarly but are pivotally mounted interiorly of the nozzle mouth. In both arrangements, however, the nap flicking elements deflect and depress the nap in the direction of nozzle travel with the result that the nap flicks to its upright position abruptly as it underrides the narrow edge of the nap flicking elements. The abrupt action thereby imparted to the nap has been found most effective in dislodging both particles of dirt embedded in the carpet and surface litter and in propelling each of these general types of foreign matter into the suction air stream. Moreover, the action of the flicking elements in opening the nap tuft by tuft in close proximity to the high velocity incoming air stream contributes a great deal to the unusually high cleaning effectiveness of the present invention.

Another feature of the design is the location of the nozzle supporting surfaces inside the ends of the nozzle mouth and behind the forward lip thereof. in consequence, the forward edge as well as both ends of the nozzle may be moved into close cleaning proximity to the baseboard or articles of furniture. construction, the nozzle supporting pontoon is located within the nozzle mouth.

Another feature is the provision of a floating pontoon within the nozzle mouth arranged to swing within predetermined limits in unison with the resilient nozzle lips to control the width of the nozzle mouth in a manner found to give improved results and to direct the maximum air flow to the side thereof where the nap flicking elements are most effective during the movement of the nozzle in a given direction.

One particularly significant aspect of the invention is the fact that the nap flickers obviate the necessity for a litter pick-up brush heretofore considered essential for dislodging litter, hair, ravelings and the like. Not only does the present arrangement have superior litter-getting ability but of particular significance, it is non-clogging. That is, it is impossible to clog the litter pick-up flickers of the present invention whereas brushes and bristles heretofore commonly employed become clogged with litter and thereby rendered ineffective until cleaned.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention According to the V ZBil iJ ll Patented Aug. 12, 1958 to provide a new and improved suction nozzle having numerous features and advantages not found in previously proposed designs.

A particular object is the provision of a suction nozzle having a unique arrangement for flicking the nap of carpets in a manner to dislodge both embedded dirt and surface litter as well as to restore matted and depressed nap to its original upright position.

Another object is the provision of a nozzle having movable nap flickers which are inclined in the proper and most eflicacious manner for cleaning irrespective of the direction of nozzle movement.

A further object is the provision of novel means for supporting the nozzle mouth Without interfering with the movement of the front edge or either end of the nozzle into contact with a room baseboard or furniture.

Another object is the provision of a suction nozzle with resilient lips designed to give readily to override larger objects or to conform to uneven surfaces without breaking the suction seal and which have sufficient strength in planes parallel to the mouth to prevent collapse thereof inwardly under the high suction pressures existing within the nozzle.

Yet another object is the provision of non-fouling litter pick-up means on the mouth of a suction nozzle.

A still further object is provision of a suction nozzle having a continuous readily flexible lip defining the nozzle mouth and cooperating with a nozzle supporting surface mounted therewithin.

An additional object is the provision of a suction nozzle having one or more combined nap flickers and air flow control members mounted within the nozzle mouth and operative to flick foreign matter into the air stream within the nozzle irrespective of its direction of movement.

Still another object is the provision of a nozzle which is equally suited for both bare and carpeted floor cleaning.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed specification of several illustrative embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view through one embodiment showing the position of parts while the nozzle is being moved toward the operator;

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the position of parts as the nozzle is being propelled away from the operator;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the nozzle;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of one of the nozzle supporting pontoons;

Figure 4a is an isometric view of an alternate pontoon construction having an adjustable nozzle supporting surface area; I

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a nozzle employing a modified form of pontoon support; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the nozzle taken along a vertical plane as indicated by line 66 on Figure 5 showing a feature of the nozzle common to the embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, it will be seen that a preferred embodiment of my invention employs a molded main nozzle body it) having a narrow elliptical inlet end 11 surrounded by a channel or seating socket 12 for the resilient nozzle lips. The inlet 11 opens into a channel interiorly of the main body which slopes upwardly and rearwardly toward a centrally disposed female socket 113 within which a male coupling 14 for the usual propelling wand is swivelly supported in any well known manner. Socket l3 and coupling member 14 are, of course, hollow and the latter communicates with the wand of a suction hose, not shown, which is adapted to be connected to the suction inlet of a tank type suction cleaner.

As herein shown, my novel resilent lip structure generally indicated at is preferably formed from rubber, soft flexible plastic material, or the like. Thus, it may be molded or extruded by well known extruding techniques. Whether extruded or molded, the entire lip member may comprise a flat strip as manufactured. posite lateral edges are formed with thickened beaded portions 16 on one surface thereof. Projecting normally from this same side and extending longitudinally of the strip is a low height narrow rib 17 which is preferably provided with narrow notches or slots 18 to permit jets of air to enter the nozzle without passing through the nap of the carpet. The width of the air ports 18, as well as the spacing thereof along rib l7, obviously can be varied by the designer for most effective operation on different types of floor coverings. However, the spacing and disposition of the notches, as illustrated in Figure 3, has been found suitable for cleaning bare floors as well as a wide variety of floor coverings. It will also be appreciated that the notches and the ribs on either of the forward or rear lip may be omitted or the spacing and size of the notches on either lip may differ from that on the other lip. Note from Figure 3 that it has been found preferable to cut away the portion of rib 17 at the rounded ends of the nozzle structure.

The opposite edges of the resilient lip structure 15 are folded back against one another so that the beaded portions can be seated within channel 12 of the nozzle and locked firmly in place therein by a surrounding clamp member 19. Overlying clamp 19 and the rim 20 of the nozzle body is a one-piece molded rubber furniture guard 21.

The suction nozzle is supported during operation by a wide area pontoon formed of sheet metal or the like and generally designated 22. The flat floor contacting surface 23 of the pontoon is generally rectangular in shape and both its width and length are preferably less than the width and length of the nozzle mouth as defined by the inner wall of resilient lip 15, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Pontoon 22 is swingably supported lengthwise of the nozzle mouth by a pair of Z-shaped rod members 24. The lower arms 25 of these supporting rods are journaled in V-shaped notches 26 at the opposite ends of the pontoon while the oppositely extending arms 27 of the rods are seated in open ended slots 28 extending upwardly from the opposite end rims of the nozzle and are held in place therein by screws 29.

It will be noted that pontoon 22 is free to swing cross-wise of the nozzle mouth through a limited arc defined by the stops provided by the opposite sides of V-notches 26. Thus, during the backward stroke of the nozzle as illustrated in Figure 1, the pontoon lags behind the movement of the nozzle and is more closely spaced to the front nozzle lip 15 than it is to the rear lip. Accordingly, the major air flow then takes place beneath the rear lip for a reason which will be explained presently. During the forward stroke illustrated in Figure 2, the pontoon will swing to the other side of its pivot axis providing an air fiow passage behind the front lip which is wider than that between the rear lip of the pontoon and the rear nozzle lip.

Note from Figures 1 and 2 that the supporting surface 23 of the pontoon is shown as on a plane even with or slightly below the base or connection of rib 17 with lip 15. As a result, substantially the full supporting surface for the nozzle is provided by the pontoon rather than by the rubber lip structure. Note also that the tips of ribs 17 extend downwardly at an acute angle into the pile or nap 31 of the carpet 32. As best shown in Figure 6, notches 18 do not extend to the full depth of rib Its op- 17 thereby preventing excessive flow of air therethrough and confining the air flow therethrough to high velocity jets extending horizontally and very close to the surface of the carpet nap.

Referring to Figure 4a, it will be observed that it is a simple matter to make the surface supporting area of the pontoon variable and to thereby control the effective size of the nozzle mouth. Thus, pontoon 22a may include a pair of surface contacting plates 23a, 23a which overlap centrally of the pontoon. Pairs of notches 23b, 231) open through the overlapping edges to receive mounting screws 23c extending upwardly into the body of the pontoon and which serve to clamp the plates in different positions relative to one another to provide a wider or narrower air inlet to the interior of the nozzle as desired.

Operation When the nozzle is off the floor, the opposite walls of lip 15 are equally spaced from a vertical median plane through the lip and ribs 17 project vertically downward. Likewise, pontoon 22 will swing downwardly so that its longitudinal axis is vertically below the axis of pivot arms 27, 27. When the nozzle is placed on the floor or carpet the pontoon will swing in one direction or the other and lip 15 will tend to pivot away from the vertical in the same direction. The pontoon will sink slightly into the nap of the carpet as clearly shown in the drawings and ribs 17 will likewise penetrate between the tufts of the carpet pile.

If the nozzle is now moved rearwardly toward the operator as illustrated in Figure l, ribs 17 will deflect and compress the carpet nap to the right. As the compressed pile underrides the penetrating edges of the rib, it will return to its original vertical position abruptly throwing dirt, litter and other foreign matter upwardly and forwardly into the air Stream so that it is carried away therein. The removal of the dirt is further facilitated by the jet action of the air streams passing through ports 18 and into the body of the nozzle. The major portion of the air, however, is constrained to flow downwardly through the carpet pile and into the base of the trough formed in the pile by the ribs before passing upwardly into the nozzle. Since during the backward stroke of the nozzle the major portion of the dirt is dislodged by the ribs on the rear lip, it is desirable to have the major air flow take place around the rear lip. Assurance of this desirable flow is obtained by the forward position of pontoon 22 thereby providing a larger free air flow space between the rear lip and the rear edge of the pontoon.

Since the weight of the nozzle is carried primarily by the pontoon, it will also depress the carpet pile and deflect it in the direction of nozzle travel. Accordingly, the deflected pile is also snapped to a vertical position as it rides past the rear edge of the pontoon. This action also tends to dislodge dirt which is picked up by the air stream flowing upwardly from beneath the forward lip 15.

When the nozzle is pushed forwardly (see Figure 2), the position of the resilient lip and of the pontoon will be automatically reversed from the position shown in Figure 1. Note that the carpet pile is now deflected in the opposite direction by the pontoon as well as by ribs 17 on both the forward and rear lips 15. The action is exactly the same as described above for the rear stroke except that the major air flow now takes place beneath the front lip due to the fact that the pontoon is spaced a greater distance from the front lip than it is from the rear. As made clear by Figure 3, the air flow takes place into the nozzle from both the forward and rear lips thereof, as well as from both ends. Moreover, flow into the nozzle throughout the periphery of the nozzle takes place without interference from the supporting surface for the nozzle provided by pontoon 22.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the effective width of the nozzle inlet may be easily varied merely by substituting a pontoon of greater width or, if preferred, the width of the pontoon suriace 23 may be readily made variable by employing the adjustable type of pontoon illustrated in Figure 4a. Movement of plates 23a, 23a toward or away from one another adjusts the efiective width of the nozzle month by varying the width of the free air flow passages along either side of the pontoon.

A nozzle having a still different pontoon construction is illustrated in Figure 5 and differs only in minor respects from those described above. Thus, pontoon 22' is provided with a pair of supporting rods 24', 24 at its opposite ends. The open bottom journal slots 28, 23 are closed by a removable plate 35 secured in place by screws 29. The lower ends of the parallel linkage provided by supporting rods 24 24' are journaled to pontoon 22' at spaced points and the arcuate movement of the pontoon is limited by stops provided by the inverted V-shaped walls 36* on either end of the pontoon. Thus, during the rearward movement of the nozzle, the forward swinging movement of the pontoon is limited by the contact of the left hand rod 24' with the left hand stop 30'. Likewise, the rearward swing of the pontoon is limited by the contact of the right hand rod 24 with the rear stop 30'.

The operation of the Figure 5 embodiment is identical with that described above except that the parallel linkage support for the pontoon holds the lower surface of the pontoon parallel to the plane of the nozzle mouth in all positions of the pontoon. Accordingly, it is impossible for one edge of the pontoon to swing downwardly as the nozzle is first brought into contact with the floor.

It should be noted that in each of the above described constructions the resilient lip design illustrated is particularly eifective in resisting inward collapse due to the high pressure differential existing between its exterior and interior walls. Yet portions of it will give readily vertically in local areas to permit the lips to override larger articles such as buttons, safety pins, hair pins, large particles of grit and the like without breaking the suction seal objectionably. However, as soon as the object has by-passed the lip, the lip and the ribs thereon immediately return to their normal operating positions.

Also the provision of the notches or ports 18 in ribs 17 serves a similar purpose in that each portion of the rib between ports 18 is free to flex as necessary to override larger objects or to conform to irregularities in the floor. Moreover, the resiliency of the ribs functions in cooperation with the resiliency of the compressed nap to provide an abrupt flicking action on foreign matter passing beneath the edge of the ribs.

Another important function of the serrated ribs is to facilitate the dislodgement of fibers, hair, ravelings and the like. Thus, such foreign matter does not tend to collect against the outer sides of the ribs but instead rides beneath the individual segments of the ribs and is flicked upwardly into the high velocity air stream and this action is greatly assisted by the jet action of the air flowing through ports 18. Since all surfaces of the lip and nozzle supporting structure have flat smooth surfaces, it is impossible for foreign matter to become enmeshed or impaled on the structure which contrasts sharply with the common experience concerning nozzles employing brushes, teeth and related arrangements for litter removal.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that all forms of the invention are well suited for use on either bare or carpeted floors inasmuch as the resilient flicking elements will rest against the floor and maintain a suction seal therewith. The flicking elements will wipe all dust and dirt from the floor into the suction air stream, and the wide area pontoons will provide a glide surface for the main weight of the nozzle.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A suction nozzle for use with a suction cleaner having a hollow main body provided with an elongated air inlet mouth and having an air outlet opening adapted to be connected to the inlet of a suction device, pontoon means having a wide area flat lower surface underlying said nozzle and carried thereby for supporting said inlet mouth closely adjacent the plane of a surface to be cleaned, said pontoon being positioned between the opposite ends of said elongated nozzle and rearwardly of the long front wall thereof whereby the front wall as well as either end of said inlet mouth may be moved into contact with the wall of a room and against furniture and the like Without interference from said nozzle supporting pontoon, at least one row of nap flickers movably mounted on said body and extending lengthwise of said elongated mouth, said flickers extending below said mouth for penetration into the nap of the carpet as the nozzle moves thereacross and mounted so as to incline in a direction opposite to the direction of nozzle movement and flick the nap so as to flick dirt into said mouth, said pontoon means extending below said mouth for contact with the nap and being movably mounted therein so as to move relative thereto in a direction away from said nap flickers and toward but short of the opposite side of said mouth so as to increase the etlective area of said mouth between said pontoon means and said nap flickers and decrease the effective area of said month between said pontoon means and the opposite side of said mouth.

2. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein there are two rows of nap flickers movably mounted on the front and rear edges of said mouth and said pontoon means is mounted to move back and forth in the region between said rows in a direction away from the direction of movement of said nozzle as it is moved back and forth over a surface so as to increase the effective area of said mouth between said pontoon means and said rows at the leading side of said mouth and to decrease the effective area of said mouth between said pontoon means and said rows at the trailing side of said mouth.

3. A suction nozzle as defined in claim 2 including means for swingably supporting said pontoon means for movement through a limited path to and fro crosswise of said inlet mouth whereby the air inlet slots on either side thereof differ in width depending upon the direction in which said nozzle is being propelled.

4. A suction nozzle as defined in claim I wherein said pontoon means has a length and width which are less than the corresponding internal dimensions of the inlet mouth of said nozzle.

5. A suction nozzle comprising, a hollow main body having a narrow elongated suction mouth, a dirty air stream discharge opening adapted to be connected to a suction producing and filtering device, nap flicking elements extending lengthwise of the nozzle mouth, said nap flicking elements projecting downwardly from the nozzle mouth to a position slightly below said mouth to engage a carpet nap, said nap flicking elements being supported on the nozzle body for movement to a rearwardly inclined position with respect to the direction of movement of the nozzle to deflect the nap in the direction of movement of the nozzle and flicking said nap in the region of the nozzle mouth, and means movably mounted within said nozzle mouth for movement toward but short of each side of said nozzle mouth for supporting said nozzle on a surface to be cleaned and for varying the suction area of said nozzle mouth on each side of said movably mounted supporting means in such manner that the 7 major portion of the air stream passes behind said rear- Wardly inclined nap flicking elements and the minor portion of the air stream passes between said movably mounted supporting means and the trailing side of said mouth.

6. A suction nozzle comprising, a hollow main body having a narrow elongated suction mouth, a dirty air stream discharge opening adapted to be connected to a suction producing and filtering device, pontoom means having a large area supporting surface for supporting the nozzle mouth on the surface to be cleaned, nap flicking elements extending lengthwise of the nozzle mouth, said nap flicking elements projecting downwardly from the nozzle mouth to a position slightly below the pontoon supporting surface to engage a carpet nap, said nap flicking elements being supported on the nozzle body for movement to a rcarwardly inclined position with respect to the direction of movement of the nozzle to ellect the nap in the direction of movement of the nozzle and flicking said nap in the region of the nozzle month, said pontoon means being mounted within said mouth for movement toward but short of the sides of said mouth in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the nozzle so as to increase the suction area of the nozzle mouth between said pontoon means and said flicking elements on the leading side of said nozzle and to decrease the suction area of the nozzle mouth between said pontoon means and the trailing side of said mouth so that the major portion of the air stream passes behind said rearwardly inclined nap flicking elements.

7. A suction nozzle comprising, a hollow main body having a narrow elongated suction mouth, a dirty air stream discharge opening adapted to be connected to a suction prcducin and filtering device, pontoon means havin a large area supporting surface for supporting the no: le mouth on the surface to be cleaned, nap flicking elements extending lengthwise of the nozzle month, said nap flicking elements projecting downwardly from the nozzle mouth to a position 3 ightly below the pontoon supporting surface to engage a carpet nap, said nap flicking elements being supported on the nozzle body for movement to a rearwardly inclined position with respect to the direction of movement of the nozzle to deflect the nap in the direction of movement of the nozzle and flicking said nap in the region of the nozzle mouth, said pontoon means being mounted within said mouth for movement toward but short of the sides of said mouth in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the nozzle to increase the suction area of the nozzle month between said pontoon means and said flicking elements on the leading side of said mouth and to decrease the suction area of the nozzle month between said pontoon means and the trailing side of said mouth so that the major portion of the air stream passes behind said rear- \vardly inclined nap flicking elements, said nap flicking elements including air ports to direct the air stream 8 through the tops of the nap for removing litter loosened upon flicking of the nap.

8. A suction nozzle as recited in claim 7 in which said nap flicking elements comprise, a plurality of ribs extending the length of the nozzle mouth, said ribs being spaced from each other to define the air ports therebetween.

9. in a suction nozzle as recited in claim 8 in which said ribs are integrally formed with a resilient clement surrounding the nozzle mouth, said element supporting the ribs for movement to a position reanvardly inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the nozzle, said resilient clement depending from the nozzle mouth to form a nozzle lip.

10. A suction nozzle comprising, a hollow main body having a narrow elongated suction nozzle, a dirty air stream discharge opening adapted to be connected to a suction producing and filtering device, pontoon means having a large area supporting surface [or supporting the nozzle mouth on the surface to be cleaned, nap flicking elements extending lengthwise of the nozzle mouth on the front and rear edges thereof, said nap flicking elements projecting downwardly from the nozzle mouth to a position slightly below the pontoon supporting surface to engage a carpet nap, said nap flicking elements being supported on the nozzle body for movement to a rearwardly inclined position with respect to the direction of movement of the nozzle to deflect the nap in the direction of movement of the nozzle and flicking said nap in the region of the nozzle month, said pontoon means being supported Within the nozzle mouth on pivotally mounted arms for selectively positioning the pontoon toward but short of the sides of said nozzle mouth to increase the suction area of the nozzle mouth between said pontoon means and said flicking elements on the leading side of said nozzle and to decrease the suction area of the nozzle mouth between said pontoon means and said flicking elements on the trailing edge of said nozzle so that the major portion of the air stream passes behind the inclined nap flicking elements on that edge of the mouth leading the nozzle in movement thereof over the surface being cleaned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

